MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday called on the public to use the heroism of Gat Andres Bonifacio as a “guiding post” in overcoming the nation’s challenges, including the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. In his speech at the Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City during Bonifacio’s 158th birth anniversary, Duterte emphasized the importance of remembering Bonifacio’s heroism as it continued to provide a sense of hope, determination, and optimism for today’s generation of Filipinos. “The bravery and patriotism of Gat Andres Bonifacio and many of our forebears who fought against foreign dominators must serve as our guiding post

MANILA – An infectious diseases expert and member of the Department of Health (DOH) Technical Advisory Group is pushing for the ramping up of vaccination against the coronavirus amid the looming threat of the Omicron variant now wreaking havoc across Europe. During the Talk to the People of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Dr. Edsel Salvana said the newly identified variant may be less susceptible to vaccines in preventing infection but the efficacy would not be “zero”. “Mababawasan lang (It is reduced) if ever and we still expect that the vaccines will continue to protect against severe disease. Sabi rin

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) announced that workforce of courts in areas placed under Alert Levels 1 and 2 will increase beginning December 1. Circular No. 146-2021, signed by Deputy Court Administrator and Officer-in-Charge Raul Bautista-Villanueva, stated that “areas under Alert Levels 1 & 2 (will) maintain a skeleton workforce of at least 75 percent to at most 100 percent from Monday to Friday” and for Saturday duty, a skeleton workforce of at least 50 percent to at most 75 percent. Judges may opt to continue to conduct video conference hearings. Manila remains under Alert Level 2 until December

MANILA – A leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday said the government should implement strict border control measures instead of re-imposing the mandatory wearing of face shields to directly address the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. “Mandatory face shield use would be an overreaction and exaggeration at this point or in the near future because there is no confirmed local transmission of the Omicron and there is no confirmed entry of any Omicron variant infected person,” Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera said in a statement. She said the key targeted action that would “directly address” the